Meaning and mechanism
Heating COP is Qhot/W: heat delivered to the hot side divided by work input. The delivered heat includes Qcold drawn from outside.
Unlike resistance heating, which converts electrical energy into heat, a heat pump transfers heat from a low temperature to a high temperature. This transfer requires external work.
Relationships and conditions
Qhot=W+Qcold, and the reversible heating COP is Th/(Th−Tc). A larger temperature difference gives a lower COP under the same reversible reference.
Calculate temperatures in K and distinguish heating COP from cooling COP. Actual performance depends on the refrigerant, heat exchangers, defrosting, and auxiliary heating.
What to observe in the simulation
Heating combines electrical input with heat moved from outside. A COP above one still conserves energy.
This steady heating model applies quality to reversible COP above the resistance-heating baseline of one. Defrosting, refrigerants, exchangers and auxiliary heating are omitted.
Key relationships and symbols
COPrev = Th/(Th − Tc) · COP = 1 + f(COPrev − 1) · Qhot = W + Qcold
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| COP | heating energy/work input | Dimensionless |
| Qhot, Qcold | Heat delivered for heating and heat absorbed from outside | J |
Worked example
With 500 W electrical input and 1500 W heating, how much heat comes from outside?
1000 W · Heating combines electrical input with heat moved from outside. A COP above one still conserves energy.
Common misconceptions
- COP’s efficiency being greater than 1 does not mean it produces energy with an efficiency exceeding 100%.